This week, Australian authorities have launched an investigation into the practices of William Hill and Ladbrokes. The two operators have been accused of violating the country’s regulations regarding in-game betting at online gambling sites. Recently, the Australian Communications and Media Authority has reported complaints from customers against William Hill and Labdrokes.
They claim that the online betting sites allow players to place in-game wagers, which is prohibited by Australian gambling authorities. Local gambling regulations state that players cannot place in-game wagers at online gambling sites. These types of bets can only be made over the phone. However, Ladbrokes and William Hill allow players to use a click-to-call service – which seems to be an interesting loophole.
Players can use their computer microphones to contact the betting operators and place in-game wagers. The operators defend this by stating that it satisfies the ‘telephone only’ portion of local gambling regulations. For an explanation about the Click-to-Call service, take a look at this tutorial from William Hill: Live betting is restricted in the country, as part of the Interactive Gambling Act.
It seems as though lawmakers are concerned about the potential risks of allowing players to wager on sports online as they occur. It can be easy to get caught up in the excitement of a sporting event, causing players to make rash decisions when it comes to betting. As such, betting site operators are required to act as the middle-man, processing the players’ wagers for them over the phone.
William Hill and Ladbrokes are quite new to the Australian gambling market. Both companies only started offering their services to Australian players within the past decade. They have done a great job of becoming leaders in the local sportsbook market, and this investigation could harm their business.
About the Author
